MLS schedule Saturday, July 25: Will Lewandowski score? Where's Messi?

[ASFN Admin]

As Lionel Messi takes a post-World Cup break after Argentina's loss in the final to Spain, big-name newcomers Antoine Griezmann and Robert Lewandowski are thrust into the spotlight as Major League Soccer has returned to action following an extensive summertime hiatus.

On Wednesday, July 22, after Lewandowski went scoreless in 63 minutes played in his debut for the Chicago Fire in a 3-2 loss to the Messi-less Inter Miami, Griezmann's MLS debut could not have gone much better. Griezmann — a World Cup winner with France in 2018 — scored his first MLS goal three minutes into the second half of Orlando City's 4-0 rout of the San Jose Earthquakes.

On Saturday, July 25, Lewandowski will look to score his first MLS goal when the Chicago Fire hit the road again to take on New York City FC at Yankee Stadium, while Griezmann and Orlando City take on the leaders in the Supporters' Shield race, Nashville SC.

MLS schedule for Saturday, July 25​

(All games available on Apple TV)

• Red Bull New York vs. Charlotte FC, 6:30 p.m. ET
• Columbus Crew vs. FC Cincinnati, 7:15 p.m. ET
• D.C. United vs. Toronto FC, 7:30 p.m. ET
• CF Montréal vs. Inter Miami, 7:30 p.m. ET
• New England Revolution vs. Atlanta United, 7:30 p.m. ET
• New York City FC vs. Chicago Fire, 7:30 p.m. ET
• Orlando City SC vs. Nashville SC, 7:30 p.m. ET
• Philadelphia Union vs. Seattle Sounders, 7:30 p.m. ET
• Houston Dynamo vs. Austin FC, 8:30 p.m. ET
• Minnesota United vs. Vancouver Whitecaps, 8:30 p.m. ET
• St. Louis City SC vs. Colorado Rapids, 8:30 p.m. ET
• San Diego FC vs. FC Dallas, 9:30 p.m. ET (FS1)
• Los Angeles FC vs. Sporting Kansas City, 10:30 p.m. ET
• Portland Timbers vs. Real Salt Lake, 10:30 p.m. ET
• San Jose Earthquakes vs. LA Galaxy, 10:30 p.m. ET

Watch MLS games on Apple TV

MLS game of the day: Columbus Crew vs. FC Cincinnati​

• Date and time: Saturday, July 25, 7:15 p.m. ET
• Streaming: Apple TV
• Location: ScottsMiracle-Gro Field, Columbus, Ohio

One of the best rivalries in MLS, "Hell is Real," renews when the Columbus Crew host FC Cincinnati. FC Cincinnati is coming off a thrilling 4-3 win over the Western Conference leaders, the Vancouver Whitecaps. While FC Cincinnati is in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff race, their Interstate 71 rivals are having a rough go of it. It's been a brutal 2026 so far for the Crew, who have just four wins in 16 league matches. Henrik Rydström was fired on May 17 after just 14 games at the helm, and Laurent Courtois is the club's interim head coach. The misery continued for the Crew following the World Cup break, losing to New York City FC 2-1 on July 22.

MLS betting odds: Who is favorite to win 2026 championship?​

According to the latest BetMGM odds, Inter Miami (+333) is the current favorite to win the 2026 league championship, followed by Los Angeles FC (+750), Vancouver Whitecaps (+750), Nashville SC (+800) and FC Cincinnati (+1200).

MLS 2026 season key dates​

• July 29: MLS All-Star Game, Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, N.C. (rosters)
• Aug. 4-Sept. 6: Leagues Cup
• Sept. 16: Campeones Cup: Inter Miami vs. winner of July 25 match between Toluca FC (2025 LIGA MX Apertura champion) and Cruz Azul (2026 LIGA MX Clausura champion), Nu Stadium, Miami
• Oct. 21: Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup final
• Nov. 7: Final day of regular season (MLS Decision Day)
• Nov. 18-Dec. 12: MLS playoffs
• Dec. 18: 2026 MLS Cup

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLS schedule Saturday, July 25: Will Lewandowski score? Where's Messi?

Continue reading...